Rep. Jodi Newell

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a patient's right to receive sterilization treatment in New Hampshire if they are at least 18 years old and request it. For patients with a medical condition where sterilization is advisable, doctors cannot refuse the procedure based on age, number of children, or assumptions about future reproductive desires, provided the patient signs an informed consent form. If a patient seeks sterilization unrelated to a medical condition, physicians must refer them to another doctor willing to perform the procedure and accept their payment method if they cannot do so themselves. The law also clarifies that patients who proceed with sterilization against medical advice generally cannot sue providers for being rendered sterile, except in cases of purposeful, reckless, or negligent conduct.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to add eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, to the list of qualifying conditions for the state's therapeutic cannabis program. If enacted, it would allow individuals diagnosed with these specific conditions to legally access medical cannabis under the existing framework. The legislation includes a provision to include other specified feeding and eating disorders alongside the named examples. The bill was ultimately not passed and died on the table before the legislative session concluded.

Maddy summaryThis New Hampshire House Concurrent Resolution formally applies to the U.S. Congress to call a limited constitutional convention for the sole purpose of proposing an amendment to protect free and fair elections. The bill argues that current election systems are imbalanced due to special interest influence and cites Supreme Court rulings as a reason for needing constitutional reform. It specifies that delegates to this potential convention would be current state and local officials or elected representatives, while explicitly barring anyone currently or formerly holding federal office from serving. The resolution also commits New Hampshire to work with other states that have passed similar applications until two-thirds of the states have applied, which would trigger the convention.

Maddy summaryHB 1581 allows the state Department of Health to authorize alternative treatment centers to operate additional cultivation sites, such as greenhouses, for growing cannabis. To approve these new locations, the department must work with local town or city officials to gather input from qualifying patients, designated caregivers, and local residents. The proposed cultivation sites must follow existing state rules and comply with local zoning laws. Although the bill was vetoed by the Governor, the legislature overrode the veto to make it law.

Maddy summaryHB 1278 expands the list of qualifying medical conditions for therapeutic cannabis in New Hampshire to include any debilitating or terminal condition where a doctor believes the benefits likely outweigh the risks for adults aged 21 and older. Under this new provision, a certifying provider must document the patient's specific condition and state their clinical opinion on the risk-benefit balance to approve the patient for treatment. The bill also removes previous restrictions that limited how many times a qualifying patient could visit the state to obtain their medication. Additionally, it includes a contingency clause to renumber the new section if another related bill passes in the future, and the law takes effect 60 days after being signed.

Maddy summaryThis New Hampshire bill expands the state's therapeutic cannabis program by adding generalized anxiety disorder to the list of qualifying medical conditions. It directly affects individuals diagnosed with this condition who wish to legally access medical cannabis through the state's existing framework. The law amends current statutes to include anxiety disorder alongside other approved conditions and takes effect 60 days after passage. No new funding is required for this change, as the program is self-funded through application fees paid by patients.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the nonconsensual sharing of fake sexual images that depict a person in a realistic but false manner. It defines a "synthetic image" as any digital creation that alters or generates a person's likeness to show their intimate parts or sexual activities without their permission. The law specifically targets individuals who create or distribute these images with the intent to harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce the person shown. Anyone found guilty of this offense will face criminal penalties under the state's existing laws on nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images. The changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2025.